PHC yesterday hauled themselves out of the First Division danger zone after running rings round a second-rate Southampton Rangers.

It was a strike by Sheridan Ming in the dying minutes of the first half which clinched the game for PHC.

But to the casual observer, Rangers would have been singled out as the bottom-half-of-the-league side on the afternoon's showing.

And Rangers were lucky not to have finished the game four or five down after a lack-lustre performance where they never seemed to get out of first gear.

The game started well for Rangers, who were unable to convert midfield domination into scoring chances. But PHC -- making full use of the home advantage -- quickly established a tempo and showed far more bite, verve and agression than the tired-looking Rangers.

Southampton coach Gary Darrell said after the game: "I never enjoy losing and there is no excuse. We were able to pick up our game in the second half, but we didn't create the scoring chances we should have.

But he insisted: "It it was a one-off game -- we came in a little bit flat having won away from home last time out and qualified for the Dudley Eve Tournament.'' PHC started firing on all cylinders after Winston Trott -- who turned in a superb all-round performance -- rifled a shot toward goal midway through the first half.

And Rangers keeper Darren Burchall did well to get to it after being wrong-footed by a nasty deflection off one of his own defenders.

Shortly afterwards, only the woodwork saved Rangers from going one down after a outside-the-box rocket from Blenn Bean left Burchall flat-footed.

Then left-back Ryan Steede and hitman Shawn Simons showed the first of the one-two plays that would make them a constant thorn in the side of the Rangers defence.

PHC keeper Ellsworth Bean -- who probably finished the match as the freshest player on the park -- got his first real scare of the match when Dawud Tucker threatened. But the first real effort at goal by Rangers was smashed over the bar.

But PHC -- clearly hungry for goals -- piled on the pressure in the last minutes of the second half.

And when a long ball through the centre found Ming, the home side took a well-deserved lead into the second half. He picked up a long ball through the centre and stroked the ball into the left of the net as Burchall went the wrong way.

After the break, Southampton tried to re-establish their short-lived supremacy and picked up their game.

But despite keeping possession in mid-field, they struggled to break out and break even.

And even when they did, Lady Luck stayed firmly on the side of the home team, with Calvin Simmons hitting the post with one of Rangers rare attempts on goal.

Midway through the second period, Rohaan Simons was the guilty party, squandering a neatly placed corner kick from Simmons by blasting the ball high and wide from only yards out.

And in the dying seconds, another off-target effort ended a dismal afternoon for Rangers.

PHC: E. Bean, F. Ming (D.Rawlins, 74 mins.), O Steede, S Simons, W Trott, E Hunt, Dano Outerbridge, M Wade, L Stanton, B Bean, S Ming.

Southampton Rangers: D. Burchall, R. Belboda, J Rayner, L Simmons, P Brangman, R Simons, C. Simmons, N Burrows (O.Jones, 14 mins), T Darrell, D Tucker, K Tucker.

Men of the match: Sheridan Ming (PHC), Darren Burchall (Southampton Rangers).

Referee: Ken Perinchief.